Name: The Irish of Brittany
Start: 2025-10-25T20:00:00+01:00
Location: St Edan's Cathedral

The Irish from Brittany is an artistic creation around Irish and Breton music which seeks to shed light on a lesser-known aspect of our history (Breton history), that is the immigration of tens of thousands of Irish people to Brittany over more than a century right up the 1800s. While researching the works of historians who have studied Irish immigration, the musicians found that hundreds of families had Irish surnames without knowing it. These names were Bretonised. “Súilleabháin” became “Soulevan”. These traces can also be found in the architecture and certain traditions. This Irish presence is attested to in the civil registers at that period.
"With the Irish of Brittany, we imagined what the meeting of these two cultures might have been like, while still taking a certain amount of liberty. To do this, we composed songs and tunes and delved into traditional sources. We wanted to create an immersive experience using quotes taken from archives but also using soundscapes.” It is a very rich creation and an ambitious music encounter in four languages, Breton, Irish Gaelic, French and English. You will hear instruments that are emblematic of Irish music, and which have become firmly established alongside our own traditional music instruments.
"With this creation, we are giving the spectator an insight into an area of our own history that fascinates us as musicians.” Brewen Favrau, musician/singer.
The show is a rich musical encounter, drawing on the historical roots of Breton and Irish a cappella singing, dances from Upper and Lower Brittany, and Irish slow airs, jigs and reels. The concert features 4 renowned Breton musicians whose creations are based on their ability to travel between the singular aesthetics of these two musical areas. The show is an immersive musical experience, immersing the audience in a sonic universe of historians’ testimonies, recited poetry and historical references. We share a common vision: arranged traditional acoustic music and the visibility of our languages, the cultural right of métissage. The relationship to creation will revolve around personal compositions and arrangements of traditional music. The programme includes singing, alternative between English, French, Breton and Irish Gaelic, as well as traditional and composed instrumental music.
Veronique Bourjot, Singer
Soazig Hamelin, Fiddle/Singer
Kevin Le Pennec, Harp/Singer
Brewen Favrau, Uilleann & Small Pipes/Whistles/Singer
The show is co-produced by the Amzer-Nevez cultural centre and La Grande Boutique, with the support of Collectif ARP and the Festival Interceltique de Lorient.